** war and social upheaval: The Cold War -- biographies Natan Sharansky








Cold War Biographies: Natan Sharansky (1948- )


Figure 1.--Here Natan Sharansky with prime minister Shimon Peres, foreign minister Yitzhak Shamir, and Ariel Sharon. After his long journey including 8 years in a Siberian slave labor camp, he finally arrived in Israel (1986).

Natan Sharansky was born Anatoly Shcharansky in Stalino (renamed Donrtsk), a grim Ukranian coal mine town (1948). Sharansky had a brilliant mind and was a child chess prodigy. He was also a math genius. He earned a degree in applied mathematics. Both aptitudes were ways to live a decent life in the Soviet Union as neither were plagued by ideology which could have kept him out of trouble with the KGB. As a young man he became a vocal Zionist--something to quickly attsct KGB attention. And not only a Zionist, but of all things a Soviet human rights activist. He not only spoke up for Jews, but also for Tatars, Pentecostalists, Armenians and others. He became the most famous of the Refusniks. Soviet authorities refused to let him emigrate and make aliyah to Israel (1973). Sharansky openly criticized the Soviet leadership for nullifying the 'universal human rights its constitution professed'. A bkack humor joke in the Soviet Union was, "What do you call a man oi integrity in the Soviet Union?" The answer was -- "An inmate." Non one better illustrates that than Sharansky. Authorities were no tabout to put up with Sharansky's outbursts. The KGB charged him with treason and of course espionage (1977). He was tried by a closed kangaroo court and sentenced to 13 years in a gulag, Siberian slave labor camp (1978). he used chess to preserve his sanity during prolonged periods of solitary confinement. This was untended to enduce insanity. Many Soviet critics were held in menbtal institutions. Sharansky resisted by played chess matches in his head. He had no idea that he had become a world-wide symbol of freedom. His wife, Avital, tirelessly campaigned for his release. Sharansky became a symbol of the plight of the Soviet refuseniks who yearned to escape repression and anti-Semitism. Jews in the United States and Western Europe rallied to their causeThere ewere nearly 3 million Jews living in the Soviet Union. The Refusnik effort had convinced many that they needed to emigrate. After 8 years in captivity, the pressure combined with the new openness (Glasnost) brought by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made Sharansky's release possible (1986). Once in Israel, Sharansky was also active. He could not publish in the Soviet Union. In Israel, he published a memoir of his life in in captivity -- Fear No Evil (1988). He and fellow Soviet Refusnik, Yuli Edelstein, founded Yisrael BaAliyah (1995). They focused on issues concerning the 1 million Soviet immigrants. His new party won seven Knesset seats (1996). Sharansky served in the Knesset (1996 - 2003, 2006). He served in the Israeli cabinet -- minister of industry and trade, minister of the interior, minister of Jerusalem affairs and deputy prime minister. After withdrawing from politics, Sharansky beczme the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (2009-18). This is an organiztion that kinks Isrealis with Jew in other countries. Another book written in colaboration with histiriuan Gil Troy tella more anout his life along with soprilnklings of history, philosophy and polemnics -- Never Alone.

Childhood

Natan Sharansky was born Anatoly Shcharansky in Stalino (renamed Donrtsk), a grim Ukranian coal mine town (1948). His father, Boris Shcharansky, was a journalist from a Zionist background who worked for an industrial journal meaning a Communist Party publication. . He was not vocal like his son. His mother, Ida Milgrom, was allowed to visit him in prison and stubbornly waged a 9-year battle for his release. His father died befire his relaease. His mother was allowed follow him to Israel, 6 months after he was allowed to leave the Soviet Union. The young Natan had a brilliant mind and was a child chess prodigy. He was also a math genius. He engaged in simultaneous and blindfold exhibitions, commonly against adult players. He won the championship in Donetsk when onkly 15 years old. .

Education

Saeanbsky earned a degree in applied mathematics.

Human Rights Activist

Both aptitudes were ways to live a decent life in the Soviet Union as neither were plagued by ideology which could have kept him out of trouble with the KGB. As a young man, however, he became a vocal Zionist--something sure to quickly attsct KGB attention. And not only a Zionist, but of all things a Soviet human rights activist. He became associated with the human rights movement hile working as an English interpreter for Andrei Sakharov. He not only spoke up for Jews, but also for Tatars, Pentecostalists, Armenians and others. He became the most famous of the Refusniks. Sharansky and his future wife, Natalia Stieglitz (Avital), decided to emigrate to Israel and requested exit visas. Aithorities aprroved Avital's request. Natan's request was denied because of his professional training and position (1973). His activism in support of the right of Jews to emigrate was probably another factor. Like other Refuseniks, Shcharansky was a frequent participant in demonstrations around the Moscow synagogue (1973-74). Ulike many others, Shcharansky was frequently detained. Sharansky began openly criticized the Soviet leadership for nullifying the 'universal human rights its constitution professed'.

The Gulag

A black humor joke in the Soviet Union was, "What do you call a man oi integrity in the Soviet Union?" The answer was -- "An inmate." [Day, p. B1.] No one better illustrates that than Sharansky. Authorities were not about to put up with Sharansky's outbursts. The KGB charged him with treason and of course espionage (1977). He was tried by a closed kangaroo court and sentenced to 13 years in a gulag Siberian slave labor camp (1978). He had suporters outside, but he knew nothing about them or were they allowed to witness the trial. Shanasky used chess to preserve his sanity during prolonged periods of solitary confinement. These were punishments cells, as Sharamsky explains, "small, cold cages with no light , no furniture , nothung to read, no ine to tak ti , and barely anyhing to eat." This was intended to enduce insanity. Many Soviet critics were held in menbtal institutions. In a way, the KGB was right, it was not a rational thing to do to take them on. This was senory deprivatioin which could cause peoole to become insdane. Sharansky resisted by played chess matches in his head--ciountless matches. He had no idea that he had become a world-wide symbol of freedom. When out of the punishment cells, he was allowed to read Pravda. Ghere ge klearbed that Oresiden Reagan had called the Soiviet Union 'the evil empire'. The Democarts and mux=ch of the media cruticised the President for this--charging that it escalted tensions in a dangerous world. Sharansky wriutes, "For us prisoners , though, it vsme sd s grest relirf. It proved the real woirkd was catchiung on and stabduing up to the Soviet liars." [May, p. B1.]

International Campaign

Sharansky's wife, Avital, tirelessly campaigned for his release. Sharansky became a symbol of the plight of the Soviet refuseniks who yearned to escape repression and anti-Semitism. Jews in the United States and Western Europe rallied to their causeThere ewere nearly 3 million Jews living in the Soviet Union. The Refusnik effort had convinced many that they needed to emigrate. After 8 years in captivity, the pressure combined with the new openness (Glasnost) brought by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev made Sharansky's release possible (1986).

Israel

Once in Israel, Sharansky was embraced as hero and continued to be active. He could not publish in the Soviet Union. In Israel, he published a memoir of his life in in captivity -- Fear No Evil (1988). Hevwas close to prime Minister Yitzak Rabin, but critiucized the Oslo ccords, realizing thatbacceoting Palestinian dictator Yasser Arafat would not lead to peace. Isn't it fascinating how voices in nthe media call Israel oppresive, but did not compoalin of the actual dictatorial rule that Arafat imposed. Shransky was also close to mPrime Minister Ariuel Sgaron, but criticized the unkateral mwuthdrawk froim Gaza. This led to the Hamas dictatorship in Gaza and terrorist enclave. Shranskywrites whilke a prisoiner he read in Pravda about 'Zionist soldiers in Africa' that were kidnapping peaceful citizens, ckaiming they were Jews' ro force them into Israel's 'insatiable military machine'. Od course that was aburd. Israel is a tiny country. And the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) is a small force comoared to the surronding Arab armies. Sharansky knew how to read Soviet newspapers. They were describing Beta Isral, Ethiopian Jews -- the Falasha. And safely in Israel, he was able to take part in Operation Solmon (1991). He writes, "Here was one Am Yisrael, one peoole, returning to their land , whose aopplause, singing ans Afrivcan undulating merged iunti one impossible and triumphant symphony." (Day, p. B1.] He and fellow Soviet Refusnik, Yuli Edelstein, founded Yisrael BaAliyah (1995). They focused on issues concerning the 1 million Soviet immigrants. His new party won seven Knesset seats (1996). Sharansky served in the Knesset (1996 - 2003, 2006). He served in the Israeli cabinet -- minister of industry and trade, minister of the interior, minister of Jerusalem affairs and deputy prime minister. After withdrawing from politics, Sharansky beczme the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel (2009-18). This is an organiztion that links Isrealis with Jews in other countries, especially countries oppressing Jews. Another book written in colaboration with histiriuan Gil Troy tella more anout his life along with soprilnklings of history, philosophy and polemnics -- Never Alone.

Sources

May, Cliford D. "Charting Natan Sharansky's journeys: From prison to an exodus from Africa," The Washungton Times (November 4, 2020).






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Created: 8:07 AM 12/24/2020
Last updated: 8:07 AM 12/24/2020